2017 is here and Hipsters of the Coast is expanding. When we began blogging over four years ago we were exclusively dedicated to Magic the Gathering, the game that brought our founders together. Since then we’ve covered a plethora of games including but not limited to Destiny, Fallout, Hearthstone, Eternal, and even Pokemon. The site has grown tremendously in the last few years.
Now in our fifth year of operation we have an opportunity to grow our content immensely and are looking to expand greatly. This means we are sending out a call for all content creators! Are you interested in writing, illustrating, podcasting, streaming, or creating videos? Do you have a passion for gaming and the gaming community? Does the challenge of building up a positive community experience for everyone sound appealing to you? If so, Hipsters of the Coast could be the place for you.
We don’t limit our content to just Magic the Gathering either. We want people who can be a positive force in the gaming community and are passionate about the games they write about. Our team here is excited to hear what you have to offer and willing to work with you to help develop your content and grow the Hipsters of the Coast brand in 2017.
If this sounds good to you then you’ll want to head over to our Content Submission Survey or click on the “Submit Content” button in our main menu. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and working with you. We know you might have some questions up front, and we’ll be happy to discuss them once we hear from you. Below are some questions and answers that I think will come up frequently.
Q. Can I create a single article or are you looking for a regular commitment?
A. We’re looking for both types of content. If you have a great idea for a single piece, such as a tournament report or an editorial response to current events, we want to hear about it. If you have an idea for a recurring column, whether it’s weekly, monthly, quarterly, or whatever, we want to hear about that as well.
Q. How will you promote my content?
A. We publish all of our content to our site’s blog and RSS feeds as well as to our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Q. Can I promote my own content?
A. Yes, we actively encourage all of our content creators to be present and part of their communities on both Facebook and Twitter.
Q. I wrote a 10,000 word thesis on <some topic>, can you publish it?
A. Probably not in it’s current format, but our editors will work with you to figure out what works best for our audience and for the community as well. There is very little content that needs to be presented as a research paper, especially in the gaming community. What’s generally more successful, meaning the community is more receptive, will be a series of smaller articles that are easier to digest. But, don’t get discouraged and don’t stop writing 10,000-word papers on your favorite gaming topics. That’s what editors are for!
Q. You mentioned a few non-written mediums. You’re really looking for those?
A. Absolutely. Part of growing our content means growing our content mediums as well. We want content that will fit the brand of Hipsters of the Coast and that can as easily be applied to video content (live or on-demand), podcasts, or illustrated content such as a web-comic or personal art.
Q. Are you interested in sponsored content?
A. We can certainly discuss sponsored content, but obviously it will have to be done in a way that is still in-line with the values and principles of Hipsters of the Coast. We would prefer a more traditional advertising partnership but please reach out to us and we can discuss what you’re looking for.
Q. How much do you pay for content?
A. That depends on the medium but the short answer is yes, we pay for some but not all of our content. Most, but not all, of the payments are linked to either performance or revenue. Once we link up with you and have a discussion about your content we can talk about the details of compensation before we go ahead with publishing. We’re not looking to steal anyone’s ideas, and if you’re not happy with your options for getting paid we won’t be offended. For obvious reasons we don’t disclose our compensation publicly but we do have a high-level of transparency within the organization.
If you have more questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook or use the Content Submission survey!
What We Learned is a weekly feature here at Hipsters of the Coast written by former amateur Magic Player Rich Stein, who came really close to making day two of a Grand Prix on several occasions. Each week we will take a look at the past seven days of major events, big news items, and community happenings so that you can keep up-to-date on all the latest and greatest Magic: the Gathering community news.